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This project embarks on a journey through the multifaceted concept of identity, using Shijiazhuang as a microcosm of China's complex socio-cultural and economic landscape. As we traverse the historical and contemporary contours of this industrial city, we uncover the transformative power of identity.
In the context of China's unique industrial history, rooted in collectivism, identity takes on a distinctive hue. It has manifested itself through both the physical and non-physical spaces of factory compounds, once symbols of collective unity, and has now evolved in response to the changing economic and political dynamics.
This exploration of identity within the Chinese context serves as a prism through which we can better comprehend the interplay of societal forces, individual aspirations, and historical legacies. It reveals the rich tapestry of human identity in the modern world. Identity, far from being static, reflects the prevailing ethos of an era, a tool honed for the pursuit of interests.
As an industrial city, Shijiazhuang's urban fabric is intertwined tightly with factories and highly influenced by them.
'Factory society' in the Chinese context refers to a unique structure formed with a 'factory compound'.
Through the satellite map, the factory compounds can be seen clearly.
One factory compound is composited as a micro-society that could operate independently. This system supports the running of the whole society.
Once workers who used to work and live in the factory leave the factory, their identity will face an unavoidable challenge.